AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of His Holiness for the diocese of Rome, accompanied by the prelates of the episcopal council.

- Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

- Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

- His Beatitude Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

On Saturday, May 7, he received in separate audiences:

- Walter Veltroni, mayor of Rome.

- Fr. Damian Fernando, diocesan administrator of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on his "ad limina" visit.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
AP:AL/.../... VIS 20050509 (130)

HOLY SEE DELEGATION: CONFERENCE ON MISSION, EVANGELIZATION

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2005 (VIS) - The World Conference on Mission and Evangelization, convened by the Department for Mission and Evangelization of the Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC) starts today in Athens, Greece. For the first time the eight-day meeting is being held in a country whose majority is Orthodox, according to a communique published today by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

An estimated 600 delegates, representing Churches and ecclesial communities affiliated with the WCC are present for the meeting which will take place on the theme "Come Holy Spirit: Heal and Reconcile." The Catholic delegation, headed by Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the pontifical council, numbers 26 people, including representatives of the Mixed Working Group between the Catholic Church and the WCC, the Roman Curia, the Federation of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, missionary orders, lay movements within missionary orders and movements committed to Christian Unity.

The Athens assembly follows the previous such meeting that took place in 1996 in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil on the theme "Called to One Hope - the Gospel in Diverse Cultures."

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in the course of its collaboration with the WCC, and through its consultors set up within the Department of Mission and Evangelization, has contributed to the process of reflection for the convocation and preparation of this meeting. The Catholic Church in Greece also gave a contribution and will be present at the conference with a delegate.

The delegation of the Catholic Church, which is not a member of the WCC, will participate in the assembly as an observer.
CON-UC/WCC:MISSION:EVANGELIZATION/ATHENS VIS 20050509 (290)

CELEBRATIONS TO BE PRESIDED BY THE POPE IN MAY AND JUNE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2005 - Below is the calendar of liturgical celebrations due to be presided over by the Holy Father during the months of May and June.

MAY

 - Sunday 15: Pentecost Sunday. At 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, priestly ordination of deacons of the diocese of Rome.

 - Thursday 26: Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Mass at 7 p.m. in the square of St. John Lateran, followed by a procession to the basilica of St. Mary Major for Eucharistic blessing.

 - Sunday 29: Pastoral visit to Bari, Italy, for the closure of the National Eucharistic Congress. Mass at 10 a.m.

JUNE

- Wednesday 29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Mass at 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica. Blessing and imposition of the pallium on metropolitan archbishops.
OCL/CELEBRATIONS MAY:JUNE/...                    VIS 20050509 (150)

CARDINAL SARAIVA MARTINS TO PRESIDE BEATIFICATION MASS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2005 (VIS) - A communique from the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced today that "Saturday, May 14, solemnity of Pentecost, at 5 p.m. at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will preside at a Eucharistic celebration and, as charged by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, will read the Apostolic Letter with which the Supreme Pontiff has inscribed in the book of Blesseds the Servants of God: Ascension Nicol Goni, virgin and co-foundress of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary and Marianne Cope, virgin, of the Sisters of St. Francis, Syracuse, U.S.A."
OCL/BEATIFICATIONS/SARAIVA MARTINS            VIS 20050509 (130)

THE MEDIA, A UNIQUE RESOURCE IN PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING

VATICAN CITY, MAY 8, 2005 (VIS) - Appearing at his study window to recite the noon Regina Coeli with the faithful in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict reflected on the solemnity of the Ascension, which is being celebrated today in Italy and in many other countries and also on the  39th World Day of Social Communications which is marked worldwide today.

  The Pope said that Jesus, "ascending into heaven, re-opened the path to our definitive homeland which is paradise. Now, with the power of His Spirit, He sustains us in our daily pilgrimage on earth." He added that "after the Lord ascended into heaven, the disciples gathered in prayer in the Cenacle with the Mother of Jesus, invoking together the Holy Spirit. ... Every Christian community is reliving in these days this singular spiritual experience in preparation for the solemnity of Pentecost."

  Turning to the celebration of the World Day of Social Communications, Benedict XVI noted that the theme chosen last year by Pope John Paul for this occasion is "The Communications Media: At the Service of Understanding Between Peoples." He said that, "in the current era of images, the mass media are effectively an extraordinary resource in promoting solidarity and understanding in the human family. We recently had extraordinary proof of this on the occasion of the death and solemn funeral of my beloved predecessor John Paul II.

  Stating that "everything depends, however, on the way they are used," he underscored how "these important instruments of communications can promote reciprocal knowledge and dialogue or, on the contrary, feed prejudice and disdain among individuals and peoples: they can contribute to spreading peace or to fomenting violence. This is why personal responsibility is always important: it is necessary for everyone to do their part to assure, in every form of communications, objectivity, respect for human dignity and attention to the common good. In such a way this contributes to knocking down the walls of hostility that still divide mankind and to consolidating those bonds of friendship and love that are signs of the Kingdom of God in history."

  Following the Regina Coeli prayer, the Pope briefly greeted pilgrims in Italian, English and Spanish. "I greet the participants in the Spring Marathon - School Fest which took place this morning in Rome, Trent and other Italian cities. I hope the formation of the younger generations is always at the center of attention of the ecclesial community and of public institutions."
ANG/ASCENSION:SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS/...        VIS 20050509 (410)